News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

A senior consultant has been removed from their post at Belfast's Royal School of Dentistry and reported to the General Medical and Dental Councils. It follows the recall of 117 dental patients for check-ups after a review of the consultant's work. Eighteen who were considered urgent cases have already been treated. The Belfast trust said the recalls were "a precautionary measure". Health minister Michael McGimpsey is to make a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly this week.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Armagh

A Co Armagh man flouted a ban on associating with children by setting up a Facebook account and arranging for a girl to travel from England to meet him, the High Court has heard. Prosecutors said James Carragher used a public library computer as part of his methods of contacting the 17-year-old, despite a prohibition on accessing the internet. Carragher (22), of Plantation Road, Portadown, was arrested last week after the girl's mother alerted police to the planned meeting.
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Carlow

One of Carlow town’s most popular ATM machines fell victim to a skimming device recently, potentially clearing out dozens of accounts. The ATM machine at AIB, Tullow Street, Carlow was targeted by conmen, who fitted the tiny sophisticated device into the machine in an attempt to rip off unsuspecting users. But the malicious fraudster s were not banking on the eagle - eyes of one very observant customer, who spotted the device at 6.15pm on Friday evening (January 28). This customer, who had seen a feature on skimming on Crimeline last week, noticed the tiny pin-hole camera the fraudsters use and immediately contacted Carlow Garda Station.
(Source: The Carlow Nationalist)

Cavan

Some elective procedures had to be cancelled at Cavan General Hospital last week as a result of the high number of patients on trolleys recently; it was confirmed at the January meeting of the Regional Health Forum, Dublin/Northeast last Monday. Stephen Mulvany, regional director of operations, Integrated Services Directorate, claimed the Emergency Department in the hospital was busy during that period and a number of steps were taken to deal with the surge in the number of patients with acute medical conditions requiring hospital admission.
(Source: The Angle Celt)

Clare

Clare’s 32 county councillors pocketed €1m in expenses last year and, according to Mayor of Clare Christy Curtin, even in the current economic climate, it represents “value for money in the context of costs incurred by councillors and functions performed”. Defending the payment of €949,961.80 in expenses, Mayor Curtin admitted that while the people of Clare would be the ultimate arbitrators, he was satisfied that the allowances paid to councillors was justified in terms of their workload and general availability to the public.
(Source: The Clare Champion)

Cork

The HSE South has recorded 371 calls to its Farm and Rural Stress Helpline for 2010, it announced this week. According to the HSE, rural stress can be caused by any number of issues ranging from financial difficulties, addiction or abuse to loneliness or relationship problems. Lack of public transport and little access to services can also be a real challenge and can compound other problems that people may be experiencing in their lives.
Source: (Cork Independent)

Derry

There were dramatic scenes at Crescent Link in Derry last Thursday when armed police tried to storm a car reported stolen after an armed robbery in Buncrana. An eyewitness told the Journal police approached the car with guns drawn and smashed a window but those inside managed to drive off. A cross-border manhunt was launched earlier when a family was robbed in their home at Kinnegoe in Buncrana.
(Source: Derry Journal)

Donegal

Hollywood-based Bundoran woman Ann McElhinney and husband Phelim McAleer have launched a scathing attack on Robert Redford in a two minute film they have released on You Tube. The married couple, who campaign against climate-change costs which force the poor to lose work, have made a short online film slamming Robert Redford who once played The Sundance Kid. They claim their film, entitled ‘Robert Redford - Hypocrite', brands the actor as "a supreme celebrity hypocrite."
(Source: Donegal Democrat)

Down

The chairman of Downpatrick and Co Down Railway has moved to reassure the public about the disappearance of railway artefacts reported last week by a different group. The story in which the Belfast and County Down Railway Trust appealed for the return of stolen artefacts, sparked a flurry of calls to the Downpatrick organization from concerned donors. Chairman Michael Collins said: “I would like to assure the public that no items that have been donated to the Downpatrick and County Down Railway have been lost. We would fully support the BCDRMT’s call for members of the public who are offered any such items to report the matter to the police, we would also be happy to distribute a list and description of the missing items amongst our own membership.”
(Source: Belfast Telegraph)